As an organization that represents employers across Massachusetts, we are deeply concerned about ballot Question 2, which would remove the requirement that students pass the 10th grade assessment in order to earn their diplomas. Lowering our educational standards will impair our ability to properly prepare the future workforce, which will have a ripple effect on our economy.
Already, employers across Massachusetts are finding it challenging to hire qualified candidates. A November 2023 survey of business leaders , conducted by the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education , a nonprofit organized to promote improvement in public education, found that 87% say it’s very (35%) or somewhat (52%) difficult to find people with the right skills.
Additionally, we have far too few students earning college degrees and certificates that would qualify and prepare them for these positions. Eliminating the graduation requirement will only exacerbate these challenges, as more high school students would graduate without the know-how and skills employers need. For the small percentage (1%) of students who don’t pass the test, we need to provide them more support, not abandon them by eliminating the only statewide standard. It’s shameful to even consider.